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Making Friends
Not everyone instinctively knows how to be friends and handle themselves in different social situations. Children who don't know how to handle social situations often feel bad about themselves and this can lead to difficulties throughout their life.
Making Friends is a ten-week practical language-based program developed by a Speech Pathologist to help children who have a poor awareness of social skills and need to be taught how to work out appropriate interaction and behavioural skills for each situation. |
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The project also helps parents to identify the social difficulties their children experience and their children's strengths and abilities and help them gain the skills to interact with others appropriately.
The program especially helps children with learning disabilities, difficulties and developmental delays in the acquisition of age-appropriate social skills so they can interact in a positive manner with family, friends and the wide community members. If we can raise money to cover the cost of the program children from financially disadvantaged families will be able to participate free of charge.
There are many children within our schools who display inappropriate social skills and consequent difficulties with interaction, behaviour and academic success. They are perceived as naughty when they just need to be explicitly taught social
skills. In the majority of cases, these children do not receive appropriate intervention to address their difficulties.
Without intervention, these children experience ongoing problems in the areas of self-esteem, listening skills, receptive and expressive language and problem solving. If we fail to address the problems these children have, they may approach adolescence and adulthood with very few skills to equip them for employment and social interaction.
Long term community well being depends upon how well we equip our children while they are still children. If we can intervene early, a child will gain confidence in their ability to cope at home, at school and in the community. Once given the skills to develop socially, a child's future prospects for further education and employment are much greater.
Students identified as benefiting from inclusion in the Making Friends project will be assessed using both standardised and informal assessments. The assessments will include parent questionnaires, anecdotal reports, observation and standardised tests to determine a child's social skills and ability.
Depending upon individual needs, the program can be offered on either a group or individual basis. The program, run by a qualified Speech Pathologist and Registered Psychologist, will include positive reinforcement and functional activities. Parents will also be given reading material to help their child identify their difficulties and develop strategies to overcome them.
Learning Links will evaluate the progress of each child by comparing results on a standardised test, TOPS, conducted before commencing the program with the results of the same test administered at the end of the program. TOPS tests children's problem solving skills and allows us to determine the child's level of need for social skills therapy. Children will also be evaluated informally at each session through observation.
Testimonies by the children's parents will also indicate the success of the program and children's improvements.
Making Friends costs Learning Links $711.45 per child. A program for 10 children costs $7,114.48. Any donation towards this program will make an enormous difference to a child.
Donations to Learning Links are tax deductible and receipted.
How do I give?
Please send a cheque or your credit card details to:
Learning Links
12-14 Pindari Road
Peakhurst NSW 2210
(specifying that your donation is for "Making Friends")
Or simply fill out the online donations form.
Is there an allowance for administrative fees? No, all money goes directly to fund Making Friends.
Contact details for further information:
Robyn Collins, General Manager, Marketing & Fundraising
Telephone: (02) 8525 8249
Fax: (02) 9584 2054
Email: rcollins@learninglinks.org.au
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